Hello...I have a question or two

First Off....Hello everyone my name is Kayla and im new to the forum. I dont own a BP yet but im getting one. Now on to better things...

Im getting a BP and i already bought a habitat but i want to know if its good enough. i actually got it on sale for $99.99 orginally 149.99. heres a link to it http://www.zilla-rules.com/products/...-snake-kit.htm
and also what are some things you think i should know being a first time snake owner. ive read up on them and been googling for days but i prefer to hear things straight from people. btw...im buying from Petco. im not sure if thats good or bad but i live in a semi small town where we dont have many pet stores.

ALL FEEDBACK APPRECIATED!

hello and welcome! i would recomend checking out the ball python care sheets on this site. its a good simple a-z on BP husbandry. my advice is DO YOUR RESEARCH! this site and its members are very informitave. youve come to the right place! :banana:

also, not sure where you are from but looking into a local herp society will also help.

hello dear and welcome!

The good news is, you certainly came to the right place for information on your ball python. The better news is, you are researching before you buy, which far too few people do.

Now for the bad news. The habitat you bought is not really suitable for a ball python. For starters, if you bought the heat lights as well, you may as well return those now. Heat lamps do nothing for your ball except ruin the humidity. There are a lot of details to proper habitat and care, you can find it all in one place here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

If you need any details worked out, that is what we are here for. Petco is not the best place to buy a pet, but if you only have limited options, a lot of us started with a pet shop snake.

Gale

Hi Kayla, welcome to the forum! :)

To be honest, I don't particularly like that setup in that it's missing a couple things. If I were you, I'd ditch one of the two lights, invest in a heat mat that takes up about half the floor space of the tank and buy a rheostat (Zoo Med makes one that's nice and sells for around $30 I think). I'd also ditch the bedding that comes with it, because I personally don't like it. It doesn't absorb anything and cleaning becomes a hassle. I'd replace it either with aspen, coconut husk, cypress mulch or plain paper towel/newspaper.

I'd set up the heat lamp high enough from the top of the enclosure so that the floor temperature on the side without the heat mat stays around 78-80 F (also, invest in a better thermostat, preferrably a digital one with a probe - much more accurate). However, if you want to heat the whole room to that temperature, then you can ditch the lights altogether, and it will be much easier for you to maintain humidity. Then, hook up the heat mat to your rheostat and play with the rheostat until you get the floor temp over the heat mat to stay around 90 F.

Otherwise, just make sure the snake has two identical hides (one on the cool side, one on the hot side), access to water at all times and be sure to mist the enclosure about every three or so days (less often if you don't use the lamps at all) to keep the humidity up (you may use plastic wrap to cover up to 70% of the screen lid to help hold in humidity). Adding fake greenery and blacking out the back and sides of the tank with bristol board or something of the like can also add a decorative and appealing look while providing more security for the snake as they won't feel as exposed.

For care info, I suggest looking at the care sheet we have on this forum under the caresheet section. You can't beat it!

Hope you'll enjoy your ball python experience, they're wonderful little snakes.

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Originally Posted by angllady2

hello dear and welcome!

The good news is, you certainly came to the right place for information on your ball python. The better news is, you are researching before you buy, which far too few people do.

Now for the bad news. The habitat you bought is not really suitable for a ball python. For starters, if you bought the heat lights as well, you may as well return those now. Heat lamps do nothing for your ball except ruin the humidity. There are a lot of details to proper habitat and care, you can find it all in one place here: http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

If you need any details worked out, that is what we are here for. Petco is not the best place to buy a pet, but if you only have limited options, a lot of us started with a pet shop snake.

Gale

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Thanks alot! the lamps actually are included in the kit. ive seen places say digial thermometers is best and thats not the kind it comes with. i read reviews on the habitat after i bought today lol. it was the last one and i didnt want to miss the sale but im tempting to return it. Im wondering what everybody has there tanks sitting on. i know the UTH is on the bottom so what could it actually safely sit on?

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Originally Posted by MissKayla

Thanks alot! the lamps actually are included in the kit. ive seen places say digial thermometers is best and thats not the kind it comes with. i read reviews on the habitat after i bought today lol. it was the last one and i didnt want to miss the sale but im tempting to return it. Im wondering what everybody has there tanks sitting on. i know the UTH is on the bottom so what could it actually safely sit on?

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Most UTHs come with little stick-on feet that you place under the tank on the corners so that it's raised and air can circulate underneath it. If you somehow get one that doesn't have the little feet, two or three stacked felt floor protectors that you can put under the legs of chairs will do the same job just as well.

ok, there are a few issues with that set up that will need to be delt with.

The thermometers/hydrometers that came in the set are crap and should not be used. go to Walmart and buy this, it coast $12 and will measure the hot and cool side temperatures as well as measure humidity.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...nt/photo-3.jpg

Second only use one of the dome lights and do not use the bulb that came with it. get this exact lamp. The 75 watt will be best, it should be left on 24/7 and will not bother you or your snake:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

Third you will need to either get another hide exactly like the one that came with the set or get 2 identical hides. I recommend the hide boxes sold by reptile basics. they cost way less and are super easy to keep clean

this is what they look like:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/da98c371.jpg


finally this cage won't last your snakes entire life. I suggest that you either save up and get a Professionally made reptile cage or if you plan on getting multiple (more than 5) investing in a rack system.

If you haven't already you should read through this:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

Last but not least a warning... Pet stores and their employees rarely know anything about reptiles and give out terrible information and try to sell you things that either you do not need or are of poor quality. The information on this site is generally much more trustworthy.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.


If you plan to use a UTH it must be regulated by a thermostat!!!

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Originally Posted by The Serpent Merchant

ok, there are a few issues with that set up that will need to be delt with.

The thermometers/hydrometers that came in the set are crap and should not be used. go to Walmart and buy this, it coast $12 and will measure the hot and cool side temperatures as well as measure humidity.

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...nt/photo-3.jpg

Second only use one of the dome lights and do not use the bulb that came with it. get this exact lamp. The 75 watt will be best, it should be left on 24/7 and will not bother you or your snake:

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...uctId=11147193

Third you will need to either get another hide exactly like the one that came with the set or get 2 identical hides. I recommend the hide boxes sold by reptile basics. they cost way less and are super easy to keep clean

this is what they look like:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/da98c371.jpg


finally this cage won't last your snakes entire life. I suggest that you either save up and get a Professionally made reptile cage or if you plan on getting multiple (more than 5) investing in a rack system.

If you haven't already you should read through this:

http://ball-pythons.net/forums/showt...s%29-Caresheet

Last but not least a warning... Pet stores and their employees rarely know anything about reptiles and give out terrible information and try to sell you things that either you do not need or are of poor quality. The information on this site is generally much more trustworthy.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.


If you plan to use a UTH it must be regulated by a thermostat!!!

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you said PLENTY thanks! i have a question for you though. if i get that lamp will i not need the uth?

Back when I used glass tanks only used those bulbs for heat. I live in florida and humidity wasn't an issue. So no you will not need a UTH with that bulb.

If you do use a UTH you will also need to get a thermostat, here are 2 options

for $30 you can get this, it will do its job but there are better

http://www.amazon.com/Hydrofarm-MTPR...d_rhf_pe_p_t_2

These cost more but are much more accurate (these are what I use)

http://spyderrobotics.com/

This is what my Glass tank set up looked like:

http://i1186.photobucket.com/albums/...t/bd98c3f5.jpg

The only thing missing from that picture is the thermometer... any tanks needs a good thermometer like the one I posted about in my first post.

A couple things not covered-
-A temporary tub, for when cleaning or for soaking.
-A digital scale to track weight gain/loss
-An infrared thermometer, never guess temps.
I use my infrared to check soak water temps, re-heated food, snake body temp (don't lazer the face), I even use it on my kids when they're sick.

Hello, I've actually got the same kit you purchased. I only use one bulb, but its a 100w daytime bulb and I leave it on all day and night. I have it set up on the right side of my tank above an exo terra medium waterfall (which is great for keeping up the humidity) I have a Flukers digital thermometer and hygrometer combo. I have a zilla UTH and have the whole tank on top of a towel to keep the bottom warmer bc since its winter the floors are rather cool. I kept the hide that came with the kit and the lamps also but changed out to a 100 watt bulb bc it wasn't keeping the temperature where it needed to be. I also bought a corner water bowl instead also. The gauges that came in my kit were not any good at all. They never displayed the proper temperature or humidity. The bark that comes with it smelled relatively bad also.. So I switched over to Cypress instead and I personally like it and havent had any problems cleaning it up. I tried uploading 2 pictures numerous times so you could actually see my set up but for some reason it just doesnt want to work correctly for me tonight. But as soon as I do I'll let you know. Oh and I also wet a shirt and place it over all of the screen except for where i have the light positioned. If the humidity gets to high i fold it back a little bit. I added some fake plants around the water fall and she goes behind the water fall and hides between the plants when shes not in her hide. I hoped this helped a little bit.. I bought that same kit about a month ago.

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Originally Posted by boaz_21

Hello, I've actually got the same kit you purchased. I only use one bulb, but its a 100w daytime bulb and I leave it on all day and night. I have it set up on the right side of my tank above an exo terra medium waterfall (which is great for keeping up the humidity) I have a Flukers digital thermometer and hygrometer combo. I have a zilla UTH and have the whole tank on top of a towel to keep the bottom warmer bc since its winter the floors are rather cool. I kept the hide that came with the kit and the lamps also but changed out to a 100 watt bulb bc it wasn't keeping the temperature where it needed to be. I also bought a corner water bowl instead also. The gauges that came in my kit were not any good at all. They never displayed the proper temperature or humidity. The bark that comes with it smelled relatively bad also.. So I switched over to Cypress instead and I personally like it and havent had any problems cleaning it up. I tried uploading 2 pictures numerous times so you could actually see my set up but for some reason it just doesnt want to work correctly for me tonight. But as soon as I do I'll let you know. Oh and I also wet a shirt and place it over all of the screen except for where i have the light positioned. If the humidity gets to high i fold it back a little bit. I added some fake plants around the water fall and she goes behind the water fall and hides between the plants when shes not in her hide. I hoped this helped a little bit.. I bought that same kit about a month ago.

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One thing, using a daylight bulb 24/7 can stress your ball python. They are nocturnal creatures and need a day/night cycle. but at the same time they need constant heat. This is why I recommend the Infrared nocturnal bulb. It provides heat while emitting a very small amount of light and the light that it does put out is in part of the spectrum that eyes barely see.

I saw that you recommended the 75 watt infared bulb, will it keep the ambient temperatures above 75 degrees though.. If I'm not mistaken the nighttime bulb that I previously used was 75 watt.. and didn't keep the tank warm enough.. But then again I changed to the flukers thermometer and the 100 watt bulb at the same time so it may have kept the temps correct.

I'm going to look into the infared bulb though. Fortunately shes been very good with me leaving the daytime bulb on. I dont see her during the day but at night before i go to sleep she comes out. But I know the bulb your recommending is the best option to go with also.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by boaz_21

I saw that you recommended the 75 watt infared bulb, will it keep the ambient temperatures above 75 degrees though.. If I'm not mistaken the nighttime bulb that I previously used was 75 watt.. and didn't keep the tank warm enough.. But then again I changed to the flukers thermometer and the 100 watt bulb at the same time so it may have kept the temps correct.

I'm going to look into the infared bulb though. Fortunately shes been very good with me leaving the daytime bulb on. I dont see her during the day but at night before i go to sleep she comes out. But I know the bulb your recommending is the best option to go with also.

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It depends on your rooms temperature. if you are worried about the 75 watt bulb not being enough, it comes in a 100 watt version. I would recommend that you get a lamp dimmer like this one to dial it down if need be.

http://www.google.com/products/catal...MAI#ps-sellers

The Infrared bulbs are different from other "night" bulbs. most are regular light bulbs with a blue or red coating over the glass. Infrared bulbs actually put out a different wavelength of light that is more effective at transmitting heat. The other main type of "night" bulbs are blacklights aka UV. Blacklights are at the opposite side of the visual spectrum of light and are very poor at transmitting heat. (Infrared light has a very large wavelength in which it can transmit heat while UV has a very small wavelength that reduces the amount of heat that can be transferred)

Sorry for the physics lesson lol

No its ok! I really appreciated it. I wasn't quite sure what the differences were until you just told me. I wish it would let me post a picture so that you could see how Everything is set up. Thank You!

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Originally Posted by boaz_21

No its ok! I really appreciated it. I wasn't quite sure what the differences were until you just told me. I wish it would let me post a picture so that you could see how Everything is set up. Thank You!

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no problem, it really does depend on your room temperature though. My apartment stays between 74 and 80 degrees year round so what works for me might not work for someone who's house stays 65 year round.